LA Clippers Hope 3rd Time's a Charm with Nate Robinson Signing at Backup PG

Jordan Farmar failed the test. Austin Rivers is in the process of botching his.

Now, 10-year veteran Nate Robinson sits in front of the exam, a one-question assessment that isn't as difficult as those other flunking grades would suggest.

The Los Angeles Clippers need a part-time, serviceable option to spell all-world point god Chris Paul. That's it. The incumbent All-Star has all the miracles, heroics and superhuman highlights already taken care of. All the Clippers ask of his understudy is to hold down the fort while he grabs a quick breather.

Robinson has a little over a week to prove he's at least capable of that much.

The Clippers announced Saturday that they have signed the former Slam Dunk Contest champion to a 10-day contract. The move reunites Robinson with his former head coach Doc Rivers and former teammate Glen Davis, a trio that helped the Boston Celtics reach the 2010 NBA Finals.

It also adds a scoring threat to a second team that recently lost prolific scoring guard Jamal Crawford, who is battling a right calf contusion.

Truth be told, that reserve unit has a lot of holes to fill. But Rivers ultimately decided to pick up who he and his staff felt was the top available talent.

"We looked at a lot of different guys," Rivers said, per Clippers.com's Rowan Kavner. "We looked at another 3, we almost brought in a 2, there’s a 4 out there we could’ve brought in. At the end of the day, I just said, 'Who’s the best player of the group?' (The staff) said Nate, and I said, 'Let’s sign Nate,' and I know Nate."

Rivers also knows what he's been getting out of his backup point guards this season: below-replacement-level play. But Robinson, who's still finding his form after suffering a torn ACL in January 2014, hasn't exactly been better.

However, he has a better track record than the others. His career scoring average (11.1), assists mark (3.0) and player efficiency rating (15.7) all check in above Farmar's and Rivers'.

More importantly, Robinson's familiarity with his new-old coach should allow for a transition as smooth as any midseason acquisition's can be.

"Just being here and being under Doc's system again is definitely going to be comfortable for me," Robinson said, per ESPN.com's Arash Markazi. "I know all the plays, so it won't be hard to really just come in and just help the team and run a team how he wants me to."

Or run the Clippers how Farmar wasn't and the younger Rivers hasn't since coming over in a January trade.

Robinson isn't a perfect player by any stretch, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a 10-day contract candidate who is. His trigger finger has a tendency to overheat, and his otherworldly athleticism can be equal parts blessing and curse.

A career 42.4 percent shooter from the field, he isn't someone fans want trying to do too much. But in a spark-plug role, the fact that his pedal stays pressed to the floor can have its advantages.

"At his best, Robinson is a player capable of bringing incredible energy off the bench," wrote Bleacher Report's Tim Daniels. "While that sometimes gets the better of him and leads to mistakes, it could be a nice fit for a Clippers team looking for an extra backcourt boost heading into the playoffs."

When Robinson is rolling, he can be a difference-making scorer. He only made 44 appearances last season and averaged fewer than 20 minutes per game, but he still had at least 15 points 13 different times. In their 93 combined games this season, Farmar and Rivers have had a total of four such scoring outbursts.

And while passing ranks low on Robinson's priority list, he has flashed the vision and creativity needed to generate scoring chances for his teammates.

In terms of talent, he looks like the best option yet to fill the backup point guard role. But it's going to take more than ability to have a successful stint in Tinseltown.

For one, his last NBA appearance came on Jan. 9. He told reporters he has kept himself in shape since reaching a buyout agreement with Boston, but there is no way to replicate the speed of this league. With only 10 days guaranteed, his margin for error is as thin as it can get.

This will also hinge on his willingness to embrace the minimal role the Clippers can afford to give him. With Paul at the helm, only a limited number of minutes are available behind him. It's Robinson's job to pounce on these small opportunities without overstepping his bounds.

He's saying all the right things for now and understands what's being asked of him.

"Just bringing my energy, and just be ready whenever my number is called," Robinson said, per Melissa Rohlin of the Los Angeles Times.

It doesn't sound all that difficult. And the Clippers obviously think he can handle it.

But they probably thought they were in good hands with Farmar and the young Rivers, too. And that belief couldn't change the failing marks those two received.

That's why Robinson is getting the call now, in L.A.'s third attempt to not only bolster its bench but also protect its franchise floor general. Paul can do some incredible things (22.5 points on 51.6 percent shooting, 12.5 assists over his last 11 games), but the Clippers need that magic to keep coming when the second season starts.

They haven't had a choice other than trotting out the 29-year-old for 35 minutes per night, but they have to hope that Robinson can help bring that number down. MVP candidate Stephen Curry has logged 33.1 minutes per game, and you have to think the Clippers would like to get Paul in that range if they could.

And maybe they will—if their third try at solving this season-long problem will be the one that finally receives a passing grade.

Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.

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